Chuck Wagon Leads Way At Postseason Awards Banquet
12/1/2021 2:24:00 PM | Football
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – All-time leading rusher Charles Williams (Fresno, CA) led the way again this season by receiving multiple honors when UNLV held its football banquet at Mandalay Bay Wednesday evening.
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The Chuck Wagon, who earlier this week was named First Team All-Mountain West for a second time, was the winner of the inaugural Rebel Spade Award, which goes to a player who best executed the program's goals, identity and plan to win. The first CoSIDA Academic All-America selection in Rebel football history also was named the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player for 2021 after rushing for 1,261 yards and 15 touchdowns, including posting a 38-carry, 266-yard, three-touchdown game in a win over Hawai'i en route to MW Player of the Week honors.
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Honorable Mention All-MW linebacker Austin Ajiake (Fremont, CA) earned UNLV Defensive MVP honors after averaging 9.25 tackles per game (fourth in the MW), including tallying 18 takedowns vs. Utah State alone.
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Lou Groza Award semifinalist and Honorable Mention All-MW place-kicker Daniel Gutierrez (Los Angeles) was named the Rebels' Special Teams MVP after a record-setting season. The senior made all but two of his attempts this fall, going 16-of-18 in field goals and finishing perfect in 25 extra-point tries. His efforts included nailing a career-long 53-yard field goal.
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Other honors handed out Wednesday included sophomore linebacker Austin Fiaseu (Las Vegas) earning the Rene Arceneaux Award, which is given to a player who has demonstrated exemplary improvement in academic progress.
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Senior linebacker Dondi Fuller (Belleville, IL) picked up the Jack Gilmore Coaches Award, which is given to a former or current walk-on player who excelled on the field. A former transfer from New Mexico Highlands, Fuller was a special teams standout who served as a team captain for both the Iowa State and San Diego State games and recorded eight total tackles this fall, including six solo stops.
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Super senior offensive lineman Julio Garcia II (Las Vegas) took home the Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award as the Bishop Gorman product, who previously announced as the 2021 winner of the Wiesner Award, started every game this fall and 25 straight overall.
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The Offensive Scout Team Co-Players of the Year were running back Josh Tihada (Lahaina, HI) and offensive lineman Anton Ambuehl (Santa Monica, CA). Safety Jerrae Williams (Harvey, LA) was the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year and Seth Robinson (Scottsdale, AZ) took the honors for special teams. Jerrae Williams and Kylan Wilborn (Northridge, CA) received the Rebel Armor awards.
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The team used game-by-game captains this fall voted on by the coaching staff but overall season captain awards went to center Leif Fautanu (Honolulu) on offense, Ajiake on defense and Kyle Beaudry (Las Vegas) on special teams. The freshman captains were QB Cameron Friel (Kaneohe, HI), LB Brennon Scott (Lancaster, TX) and DB Cameron Oliver (Richmond, TX).
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2021 UNLV FOOTBALL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player - Offense                   Charles Williams, RB, Super Senior
Most Valuable Player - Defense                                    Austin Ajiake, LB, Senior
Most Valuable Player - Special Teams                         Daniel Gutierrez, PK, Senior
Rebel Spade Award                             Charles Williams, RB, Super Senior
Rene Arceneaux Award                                                 Austin Fiaseu, LB, Sophomore
Jack Gilmore Coaches Award                    Dondi Fuller, LB, Senior
Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award     Julio Garcia II, OL, Super Senior
Rebel Armor Awards                            Kylan Wilborn, LB, Senior
                                                Jerrae Williams, DB, Senior
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year (Co-)Â Â Â Â Â Josh Tihada, RB, Freshman
                                               Austin Ambuehl, OL, Freshman           Â
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year                  Jerrae Williams, DB, Junior
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year      Seth Robinson, DL, Sophomore
Offensive Captain Award                        Leif Fautanu, OL, Sophomore
Defensive Captain Award                        Austin Ajiake, LB, Senior
Special Teams Captain Award                    Kyle Beaudry, LB, Senior
Freshman Offensive Captain Award              Cameron Friel, QB, Freshman
Freshman Defensive Captain Award                           Brennon Scott, LB, Freshman
Freshman Special Teams Captain Award          Cameron Oliver, DB, Freshman
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The Chuck Wagon, who earlier this week was named First Team All-Mountain West for a second time, was the winner of the inaugural Rebel Spade Award, which goes to a player who best executed the program's goals, identity and plan to win. The first CoSIDA Academic All-America selection in Rebel football history also was named the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player for 2021 after rushing for 1,261 yards and 15 touchdowns, including posting a 38-carry, 266-yard, three-touchdown game in a win over Hawai'i en route to MW Player of the Week honors.
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Honorable Mention All-MW linebacker Austin Ajiake (Fremont, CA) earned UNLV Defensive MVP honors after averaging 9.25 tackles per game (fourth in the MW), including tallying 18 takedowns vs. Utah State alone.
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Lou Groza Award semifinalist and Honorable Mention All-MW place-kicker Daniel Gutierrez (Los Angeles) was named the Rebels' Special Teams MVP after a record-setting season. The senior made all but two of his attempts this fall, going 16-of-18 in field goals and finishing perfect in 25 extra-point tries. His efforts included nailing a career-long 53-yard field goal.
Â
Other honors handed out Wednesday included sophomore linebacker Austin Fiaseu (Las Vegas) earning the Rene Arceneaux Award, which is given to a player who has demonstrated exemplary improvement in academic progress.
Â
Senior linebacker Dondi Fuller (Belleville, IL) picked up the Jack Gilmore Coaches Award, which is given to a former or current walk-on player who excelled on the field. A former transfer from New Mexico Highlands, Fuller was a special teams standout who served as a team captain for both the Iowa State and San Diego State games and recorded eight total tackles this fall, including six solo stops.
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Super senior offensive lineman Julio Garcia II (Las Vegas) took home the Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award as the Bishop Gorman product, who previously announced as the 2021 winner of the Wiesner Award, started every game this fall and 25 straight overall.
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The Offensive Scout Team Co-Players of the Year were running back Josh Tihada (Lahaina, HI) and offensive lineman Anton Ambuehl (Santa Monica, CA). Safety Jerrae Williams (Harvey, LA) was the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year and Seth Robinson (Scottsdale, AZ) took the honors for special teams. Jerrae Williams and Kylan Wilborn (Northridge, CA) received the Rebel Armor awards.
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The team used game-by-game captains this fall voted on by the coaching staff but overall season captain awards went to center Leif Fautanu (Honolulu) on offense, Ajiake on defense and Kyle Beaudry (Las Vegas) on special teams. The freshman captains were QB Cameron Friel (Kaneohe, HI), LB Brennon Scott (Lancaster, TX) and DB Cameron Oliver (Richmond, TX).
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2021 UNLV FOOTBALL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player - Offense                   Charles Williams, RB, Super Senior
Most Valuable Player - Defense                                    Austin Ajiake, LB, Senior
Most Valuable Player - Special Teams                         Daniel Gutierrez, PK, Senior
Rebel Spade Award                             Charles Williams, RB, Super Senior
Rene Arceneaux Award                                                 Austin Fiaseu, LB, Sophomore
Jack Gilmore Coaches Award                    Dondi Fuller, LB, Senior
Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award     Julio Garcia II, OL, Super Senior
Rebel Armor Awards                            Kylan Wilborn, LB, Senior
                                                Jerrae Williams, DB, Senior
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year (Co-)Â Â Â Â Â Josh Tihada, RB, Freshman
                                               Austin Ambuehl, OL, Freshman           Â
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year                  Jerrae Williams, DB, Junior
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year      Seth Robinson, DL, Sophomore
Offensive Captain Award                        Leif Fautanu, OL, Sophomore
Defensive Captain Award                        Austin Ajiake, LB, Senior
Special Teams Captain Award                    Kyle Beaudry, LB, Senior
Freshman Offensive Captain Award              Cameron Friel, QB, Freshman
Freshman Defensive Captain Award                           Brennon Scott, LB, Freshman
Freshman Special Teams Captain Award          Cameron Oliver, DB, Freshman
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Players Mentioned
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